THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 2022 Page 5 School Committee votes to move forward with health director position By Adam Swift I t’s been nearly two decades since there has been a Director of Health and Wellness in the Revere public schools, but that could soon change. At Tuesday’s School Committee meeting, members voted to have Supt. of Schools Dr. Dianne Kelly draft a job description for the position. “This came up last year,” said committee member Stacey Bronsdon-Rizzo. “We were asked to talk about three director positions: One was health and wellness, one was a director of fi ne arts and one was for technology. Although there was money for it, we kind of put it on the back burner.” However, Bronsdon-Rizzo said now might be the time to take the health and wellness positions off the back burner. “With what’s going on with Covid and families, I think it is MBTA | FROM Page 4 fare product, MBTA staff have proposed to lower the cost of the 1-Day LinkPass from $12.75 to $11. An $11 LinkPass pays for itself with fi ve subway rides taken in 24 hours. If approved, the $11 1-Day LinkPass would go into eff ect on July 1, 2022. Expanding Second Transfers on Buses, Express Bus Routes, and/or Subway: Currently, the MBTA only allows one transfer between Bus and/or Subway with one recent addition – CharlieCard riders may transfer from Bus to Subway to Bus. To simplify complexities in the T’s transfer policy, MBTA staff have proposed standardizing the transfer process to allow all combinations of second transfers involving Buses, Express Bus Routes, and/ or Subway, including Bus-BusSubway, Subway-Bus-Bus, and Express Bus-Express Bus. If approved, the second transfers on Subway and Buses and transfers between Express Routes would go into eff ect on July 1, 2022. Proposed Changes for Reduced Fare Riders: Some riders are eligible for reduced fares, including people with disabilities and Medicare cardholders, people 65 and older, some middle and high school students, and people 18 – 25 with low income. MBTA staff have proposed three fare change proposals that aim to improve equity by closing gaps in existing fare structures for Reduced Fare Riders: • Introducing the 7-Day LinkPass for Reduced Fare Riders: time that we do hire that Director of Health and Wellness,” she said. “We haven’t had one since 2004, and she was vital to our community.” The basic duties of the position would include developing and implementing strategies and safeguard protocols, promoting and managing the health and wellness of students and staff and addressing the health concerns that interfere with learning, said Bronsdon-Rizzo. Right now, school nurses are under the athletic director, and social workers are under the guidance counselors. BronsdonRizzo said it would make sense to move those positions so they report to a health and wellness director. Since a Health and Wellness Director could come from outside the school system, Bronsdon-Rizzo said, there wouldn’t be an impediment to hiring a Aiming to increase equity by increasing the benefi ts of purchasing fares in bulk for Reduced Fare Riders, MBTA staff have proposed the introduction of a 7-Day LinkPass for Reduced Fare Riders, which is not currently available. This 7-Day LinkPass for Reduced Fare Riders is proposed to be available for $10, which breaks even after nine subway rides. This product is designed to meet the needs of individuals who might not have enough cash on-hand to aff ord a monthly pass, but who qualify for Reduced Fare programs. Reduced Single Ride fares for Reduced Fare Riders are $1.10 for the subway and $0.85 for the bus with a Reduced Monthly LinkPass available for $30. The Full Fare 7-Day LinkPass is available for $22.50. If approved, the expansion of Reduced Fare 7-Day LinkPass would go into effect on July 1, 2022. • Introducing Monthly Passes for Reduced Fare Riders on Commuter Rail, Ferry, and Express Bus: In order to increase equity by closing gaps in the T’s off ering of products for Reduced Fare Riders, MBTA staff have proposed introducing monthly passes on Commuter Rail, Ferry, and Express Bus for Reduced Fare Riders. This proposal would offer a full set of monthly passes for Reduced Fare Riders at approximately 50% of the full fare pass prices. Currently, Reduced Fare Riders have to purchase Singe Ride tickets to benefi t from the Reduced Fare pricing. If approved, the expansion of Monthly Passes for Reduced Fare Riders would go into eff ect on July 1, 2022. qualifi ed candidate in February. School Committee member Susan Gravellese agreed that the schools should move forward with the position. “Of the three positions, that was the one we were all in agreement on when we discussed that back in November,” she said. School Committee member Carol Tye said the Health and Wellness Director was an important position for the system the last time it was in place. “I was the superintendent then, and she was enormously valuable,” Tye said. “Situations would come up and it might require fi ve or six people to respond, but you need a key person there to make sure each one does whatever their position tells them to do.” The School Committee unanimously voted for Kelly to come back with a job description at the February meeting. • Expanding Availability of the LinkPass for Reduced Fare Riders on Commuter Rail Zone 1A and Inner Harbor Ferry: Currently, a LinkPass for Reduced Fare Riders is only available on CharlieCard fare media instead of a printed “fl ash pass” CharlieTicket that Commuter Rail conductors and ferry staff can see to visually validate a fare. As more updates take place as part of AFC 2.0, customers will be able to use tappable tickets as well as CharlieCards to travel on the Commuter Rail and Ferries. As such, and to increase access and equitable pricing on Reduced Fare passes, MBTA staff have proposed making the LinkPass for Reduced Fare Riders valid for Commuter Rail travel in Zone 1A and on the Charlestown Ferry. If approved, this expansion of the LinkPass for Reduced Fare Riders would go into eff ect on July 1, 2022. The public is invited to comment on these proposed changes at a virtual public meeting to be held on Thursday, February 10, 2022, at 6 PM well as the offi cial public hearing to be held virtually on Thursday, February 17, 2022, at 6 PM. The public is also welcome to submit comments online through Thursday, March 3, 2022, at mbta. com/2022FareChanges or by email to publicengagement@ mbta.com. The Title VI analysis will be shared with the MBTA’s Board and posted to mbta.com prior to the scheduled March 24, 2022, Board meeting. For more information, please visit mbta.com or connect with the T on Twitter @MBTA, Facebook /TheMBTA, or Instagram @theMBTA. ARTS | FROM Page 1 can be thrown out. Once the fi nal clean out is done, McKenna said, the commission members can tour the fi re station to begin to get a better idea of how it could be converted into an arts center. “We should go and see it, it’s a beautiful place,” said McKenna. Once the planning for the space begins, McKenna said, the commission will also have to consider how it can raise the money to renovate the building. She said Fire Department Captain Robert Fortuna estimated it would cost at least $100,000 to Gerry D’Ambrosio Attorney-at-Law Is Your Estate in Order? Do you have an update Will, Health Care Proxy or Power of Attorney? If Not, Please Call for a Free Consultation. 14 Proctor Avenue, Revere (781) 284-5657 renovate the building and bring it up to code. “I have a couple of ideas for renovating it and getting the money, but I am going to talk to Mayor [Brian] Arrigo and see what he has to say,” said McKenna. Since the Beachmont Fire Station is a City of Revere building, and the plan is for a city art center, McKenna said, she is hoping there is a way to use some kind of city funds for the renovation. “I really want this to come to fruition and use that fi rehouse, because it has been sitting there for 15 years doing nothing,” said McKenna.
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